2019 How Much Does Air Conditioning Repair Cost

If there is one thing you don’t want, it is to be caught without air con over summer.

And like any piece of machinery, they need maintenance to keep them running smoothly. Forget to keep on top of this and you are soon going to be looking for someone to fix it. And the inevitable question is, ‘How much is it going to cost?’.

Knowing how something works can give you insights into solving what is wrong when your air conditioner stops functioning as it should.

Air conditioners work along the same principle as fridges, and the key to the technology is the chemical-base refrigerant that absorbs heat from your room. It then pumps the hot air via pipes to the condenser unit outside where a fan blows all the heat in the coils into the outdoor atmosphere. This process is repeated over and over to continually cool the air in your home.

There are basically three types of air conditioning systems on the market:

Split systems are the most common type of air con system, consisting of an (internal) head unit and (external) condenser/compressor. These are relatively affordable though coverage is on a per room basis.

Ducted systems are integrated into your home’s ceiling and wall cavity, and are designed for whole home heating & cooling. They are visually less intrusive than a split system but do cost more to purchase and install.

Portable: portable air con units are versatile in that they can be placed anywhere with a plug/power outlet. They are however limited in their output and generally only suitable for a single room.

If you want the air conditioner to work without needing repair try to perform these simple maintenance steps.

You can start by keeping the external unit clean, by simply wiping it down every few weeks and making sure no leaves get caught up near it. You also need to clean the return air filters (internal unit), especially if the unit is exposed to a lot of dust. This can cause your unit to ice up if left to accumulate. The same applies to the external condenser fins, which needs to be regularly cleaned. Another easy spot of maintenance is to keep the drain outlet coming from the external condenser clean. This is normally a clear plastic hose that hangs out of the bottom of the unit.

Yes. anyone who works with air conditioning and handles refrigerants needs to be licensed in the state they are based in. Furthermore the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) requires all installers and repair technicians to hold a Refrigerant Handling Licence (RHL). This applies countrywide and is due to the

Other trades like electricians and plumbers may be able to install a unit, but will have no training how the systems work - so stick to a licensed air con repairer for any work on your unit.

Air conditioner repairers will charge you based on a few factors, including where you live, the amount of time your job takes and what replacement parts are required.

Air conditioning repairers charge by the hour - so expect to be charged anywhere from $80 - $110 per hour + GST for domestic air conditioning and $80 - $140 per hour + GST for commercial units. This figures may vary locally and should only be taken as a guide. The best way of finding out the cost of your job is to get quotes.

Before you hire an air conditioning repairer, you should look to get at least three quotes. This allows you to compare price, experience and level of service. Also be sure to understand how much they will charge by getting a written quote, and try hire someone with plenty of testimonials from happy clients. You also need to make sure you get a quote in writing - if they can’t provide that, don’t bother.